Copyright 2006 Christopher Green
One of the hardest symptoms to deal with during a depressive
episode is feeling disconnected from reality. This feeling
causes sufferers to retreat further and further into their own
world. They become isolated from their loved ones and friends
and the loneliness deepens the depression.
Here's three ways to stop isolation from making depression worse.
1. Have at least one person you can turn to and have regular
contact with 3-4 times a week. Someone you can call when you
need to talk, someone who can be with you just watching TV or
going to a movie. You don't have talk about how you feel if you
don't want to and be clear that you don't want to be questioned
about your feelings. Hopefully, they'll understand this and will
be there for you when you need them.
2. There will be times when you just want to shut out the world
and have your own space. Many sufferers just want to be alone in
a quiet room such as their bedroom. There's nothing wrong with
this at all. But try not to make it a daily or regular habit.
Schedule this once, maybe twice a week at most and be strict
with it. It's about a balance. Yes, shut the world out for a day
or two each week. For the rest of the week, be around people,
especially the special person we discussed in the first
paragraph.
3. When you do shut the world out, do it in a way that helps you
rather than hurts you. So, instead of retiring to a dark room
and lying in bed to brood about your problems, try these: Mind
puzzles - logic problems, crosswords, spatial puzzles etc. -
jigsaw puzzles, draw or paint, play a musical instrument, write
stories, watch TV or a movie, or read a book or a magazine and
listen to some music. With a book and music, avoid anything too
heavy or deep. Keep it nice and light. In this way, isolation
doesn't become a period of deep introspection where you worry or
fret about problems or go over the past or beat up on yourself.
You get the peace and tranquillity but not the torment that can
accompany it during a depressive episode.
If you feel isolated and that life seems like a "virtual
reality", then please put these techniques to use. Isolation is
a part of depression and the key to lessening the impact is to
understand how it happens and use it so it helps you beat
depression instead of keeping you trapped in it.
About the author:
Chris Green is the author of "Conquering Stress", a special
program which will show you how to conquer stress, depression
and anxiety without taking powerful drugs. For a free e-course
please click here =>
http://www.conqueringstress.com
